New Taipei Police Deny Intent to Torture in "Taiwanese Cambodian Scam" Case Hearing

(CNA, New Taipei, June 10, by reporter Tsao Ya-yen) A former acting deputy captain of the New Taipei City Criminal Investigation Corps' First Team, surnamed Cheng, and others were indicted for hanging two suspects upside down and beating them during the investigation of the "Taiwanese Cambodian scam case." In court today, Cheng denied any intent to torture, stating that his actions were aimed at finding the victims' bodies as quickly as possible and that he committed the act under pressure to solve the case, hoping for a lenient sentence.

In 2022, New Taipei police received reports that people seeking jobs were being imprisoned by a fraud ring. After several raids, police rescued the captives and discovered that three other victims had been killed and their bodies abandoned, in a case that became known as the "Taiwanese Cambodian scam case."

According to the indictment, in November 2022, acting deputy captain Cheng of the New Taipei City Criminal Investigation Corps' First Team, along with detectives Wang, Chang, and Wu, were investigating the case. Because suspects Chang and Wu were involved in abandoning bodies but refused to confess, the officers allegedly abused the two suspects by blindfolding them, hanging them upside down, beating them, and forcing them to sing while being recorded. In March of this year, they were indicted under the Criminal Code for the offense of abuse of a person in custody by a public official.

During the hearing at the New Taipei District Court today, Cheng admitted to the objective facts but denied any intent to torture, claiming it only constituted coercion. He testified that he was trying to find the victims' bodies as soon as possible, and seeing the tears of the victims' families, coupled with the pressure of racing against time to solve the case, led him to act impulsively. He stated the process lasted only five minutes, that he has since reflected deeply on his actions, and that he hopes to reach a settlement, asking the judge for a lighter sentence.

Detective Wang also stressed he had no intention of torture, claiming that since suspect Chang had previously forced captives to sing, they made him sing to make him understand their experience and to break through his psychological defenses. They stopped immediately once the suspect revealed the location where the bodies were dumped.

The defense attorney for Detective Chang stated that while his client's methods may have been too extreme, in an era where civil servants often play it safe, Chang did not slack off but worked hard to solve the case, making him a useful talent for the country. The attorney added that Chang has shown deep remorse and hoped for a chance to reform.

Suspect Chang stated, "Although what I did was a bit excessive, the police didn't have to use extreme measures to force a confession." He said that after the incident, he was too scared to sleep at night and is currently on medication from a psychiatric clinic, but he is willing to reconcile with the defendants.

Another suspect, Wu, also expressed his willingness to settle. The victims' legal representative pointed out that Cheng and the other officers, as police, knowingly broke the law, harmed the dignity of Chang and Wu, and caused the victims to continue to suffer from panic, and that the officers have not apologized to this day. (Editor: Lung Po-an) 1150610